High-strength, herbicidal compositions of glyphosate and 2,4-d salts

ABSTRACT

The mixture of certain amine salts of glyphosate and 2,4-D allows the preparation of high-strength liquid compositions containing up to greater than 450 gae/L of total active ingredient loading if the pH is adjusted to about 6.0 to about 8.0. Compositions are particularly well-suited for application to crops that are resistant or tolerant to both glyphosate and 2,4-D.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/171,592 filed on 22 Apr. 2009. The present invention relates tohigh-strength, liquid compositions containing salts ofN-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate) and (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)aceticacid (2,4-D).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Glyphosate and 2,4-D are known, effective herbicides. Variousformulations are currently marketed, many of which are aqueous solutionsthat can be used as is or diluted to prior to use. Typically both theglyphosate and the 2,4-D are provided as salts, which exhibitsufficiently high solubility in water to provide a high-strengthherbicidal formulation. Pre-mix formulations of glyphosateisopropylamine (IPA) salt and 2,4-D IPA salt are well known in theindustry and typically used in burn-down applications. However, thetotal active ingredient loading (grams acid equivalent per liter [gae/L]glyphosate IPA+gae/L 2,4-D IPA) in the commercially availableformulations is limited to less than about 320 gae/L if the ratio ofglyphosate (gae/L) to 2,4-D (gae/L) is between the desired ratio of1:2.3 to 2.3:1. A higher-strength formulation is desirable for a varietyof economic and environmental reasons. For example, it is desirable toprovide a high-strength formulation to reduce shipping and handlingcosts and to reduce the amount of packaging material that must bedisposed. The high-strength formulations should be stable and retainpotency during storage and shipping. Furthermore, the high-strengthformulation should be a homogeneous liquid that is stable attemperatures at least as high as 50° C. and should not exhibit anyprecipitation at temperatures at least as low as 0° C.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that the mixture of certain amine salts ofglyphosate and 2,4-D allows the preparation of high-strength liquidcompositions containing up to or greater than 450 gae/L of total activeingredient loading if the pH is adjusted to about 6.0 to about 8.0. Thepresent invention provides a homogeneous, stable, high-strength aqueousherbicidal concentrate composition comprising:

-   -   (a) water,    -   (b) a glyphosate amine salt, and    -   (c) a 2,4-D amine salt,

in which (i) the glyphosate amine salt and the 2,4-D amine salt areindependently primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary alkylamine,alkanolamine or alkylalkanolamine salts, wherein the alkyl and alkanolgroups are saturated and contain from C₁-C₃ carbon atoms individually,with the proviso that no more than one of the amine salts in thecomposition can be a primary amine salt, (ii) the composition contains atotal active ingredient loading of at least 350 gae/L of the glyphosateamine salt and the 2,4-D amine salt, (iii) the weight ratio of to theglyphosate amine salt to the 2,4-D amine salt is from about 1:2.3 toabout 2.3:1, and (iv) the pH is from about 6.0 to about 8.0.Furthermore, one or more cosolvents and/or efficacy-enhancingsurfactants can optionally be incorporated into the high-strengthcomposition while still maintaining the high loading.

In still yet another form, the present invention provides a method oftreating plants with the herbicidal composition. The composition istypically applied as a post-emergent herbicide. While the compositioncan be applied as a highly concentrated solution, it is preferablydiluted with water prior to application to the plants. While thecomposition can be used in a burn-down situation, it is particularlywell-suited for application to crops that are resistant or tolerant toboth glyphosate and 2,4-D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general the present invention is directed to a homogeneous, stable,high-strength aqueous herbicidal concentrate composition containing amixture of amine salts of glyphosate and 2,4-D. More specifically, thepresent invention provides a high-strength herbicidal concentratecomposition comprising:

-   -   (a) water,    -   (b) a glyphosate amine salt, and    -   (c) a 2,4-D amine salt,

in which (i) the glyphosate amine salt and the 2,4-D amine salt areindependently primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary alkylamine,alkanolamine or alkylalkanolamine salts, with the proviso that no morethan one of the amine salts in the composition can be a primary aminesalt, wherein the alkyl and alkanol groups are saturated and containfrom C₁-C₃ carbon atoms individually, (ii) the composition contains atotal active ingredient loading of at least 350 gae/L of the glyphosateamine salt and the 2,4-D amine salt, (iii) the weight ratio of theglyphosate amine salt to the 2,4-D amine salt is from about 1:2.3 toabout 2.3:1, and (iv) the pH is from about 6.0 to about 8.0.

The amine salts of glyphosate and 2,4-D of the present invention may beprimary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary alkylamines, alkanolamines oralkylalkanolamines, with the proviso that no more than one of the aminesalts in the composition is a primary amine salt. The alkyl groups ofsuch amines are saturated and contain from C₁-C₃ carbon atomsindividually. Examples of preferred amine salts include dimethylamine,trimethylamine, isopropylamine, dimethylethanolamine,diethylethanolamine, diethanolamine, choline or tetramethylammoniumsalts. While it is often preferred that the amine salts of bothglyphosate and 2,4-D be the same, they can be different, particularlywhen one of the amine salts is primary.

The herbicidal composition includes the glyphosate amine salt and the2,4-D amine salt in an amount sufficient to provide the high-strengthcomposition. In preferred embodiments, the high-strength herbicidalcomposition includes a total active ingredient loading greater thanabout 350 gae/L based on the total glyphosate amine salt and 2,4-D aminesalt; more preferably, the high-strength herbicidal composition includesgreater than about 450 gae/L based on the total glyphosate amine saltand 2,4-D amine salt; most preferably, the high-strength herbicidalcomposition includes greater than about 470 gae/L based on the totalglyphosate amine salt and 2,4-D amine salt.

In the compositions of the present invention, the weight ratio of theglyphosate amine salt to the 2,4-D amine salt is from about 1:2.3 toabout 2.3:1, more preferably from about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1 and mostpreferably about 1:1 on an ae basis.

In preferred embodiments, the present invention includes a high-strengthherbicidal composition that is storage stable at high temperatures. Thatis, the composition forms a homogeneous, stable solution that does notexhibit cloudiness under the storage conditions. More preferably, thecompositions of the present invention are stable at temperatures greaterthan or equal to about 50° C.; most preferably, at temperature equal toor greater than about 60° C.

Furthermore, the herbicidal composition also does not exhibit separationor precipitation (or crystallization) of any of the components at lowtemperatures. For example, the high-strength composition remains asolution at temperatures below about 0° C., more preferably attemperatures below about −10° C., and most preferably at temperaturesbelow about −20° C.

To maintain such stability the pH of the composition of the presentinvention should be adjusted to from between about 6.0 to about 8.0. Thepreferred pH is from between about 6.5 to about 7.5. The pH of thecomposition of the present invention can be conveniently controlled bypreparing the high-strength aqueous herbicidal concentrate compositionby neutralizing the glyphosate and 2,4-D acids with aqueous solutions ofthe appropriate amines and using a slight excess of amine to adjust thepH to the desired range.

The high-strength herbicidal composition may optionally include one ormore cosolvent and/or an efficacy-enhancing amount of a surfactant orsurfactant mixture. In such embodiments, the cosolvent and/or surfactantis selected to be compatible in solution with the high concentrationcomposition. By use of the term “compatible” in the present application,it will be understood by those skilled in the art to include within itsmeaning that the resulting solution does not exhibit a phase separationor precipitation in the composition that can be initially observed as acloudiness and which is typically determined at a specified temperature.

Cosolvents conventionally used in the art of formulation and which mayalso optionally be used in the present compositions are solvents whichare totally miscible with water, particularly in the presence ofelectrolytes. Cosolvents particularly well-suited for use in the presentinvention are preferably alcohols and glycols containing free hydroxygroups and include methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, amyl alcohol,ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerine, propylene glycolmonomethyl ether and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether and the like.

The cosolvent can be included in the herbicidal composition in a desiredconcentration. If a cosolvent is used, the herbicidal compositionincludes the cosolvent in amounts between about 20 g/L and about 200g/L, more preferably in amounts between about 50 g/L and about 100 g/L.

Surfactants conventionally used in the art of formulation and which mayalso optionally be used in the present compositions are described, interalia, in “McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers Annual,” MC PublishingCorp., Ridgewood, N.J., 1998 and in “Encyclopedia of Surfactants,” Vol.I-III, Chemical Publishing Co., N.Y., 1980-81. Surfactants particularlywell-suited for use in the present invention are preferably to selectedto include one or more of the following types of compounds: alkylaminesurfactants having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, such as Armeen DMTD, andDuomeen TTM; alkoxylated alkylamine surfactants having 8 to 22 carbonatoms and a total of 1-20 alkylene oxide groups, available for examplefrom Akzo Nobel as Ethomeen™ C/12, Ethomeen™ T/12, Ethoduomeen T/13, andPropomeen T/12 respectively; etheramine surfactants, such as TomahE-14-2, Tomah E-14-5 and Tomah Pa.-17 from Air Products; amine oxidesurfactants, such as Aromox C/12 and Aromox DMC from Akzo Nobel, AmmonyxLO and Ammonyx CDO from Stepan, and Tomah AO-14-2 from Air Products;amidoamine surfactant, such as Adsee C80W from Akzo Nobel; quaternaryammonium surfactants, such as Akzo Nobel's Arquad T/50, Arquad APA-E,Duoquad T/50, Ethoquad™ C/12, and Ethoquad™ 18/12, and Air Products'Tomah Q-14-2; amphoteric surfactants, such as Dehyton AB-30 from Cognis,Geronol™ CF/AS 30 from Rhodia, and Tego™ Betaine F 50 from Goldschmidt;alcohol ethoxylates, such as Tergitol™ 15S20; alcohol ethoxylatephosphate esters such as Geranol CF/AR from Rhodia; alkylpolyglycosidessuch as Akzo Nobel AG 6202 or AG 6210; or anionic ester derivatives ofalkylpolyglycosides such as the Eucarol™ AGE surfactants.

The surfactant can be included in the herbicidal composition in adesired concentration. If surfactants are used, preferably the desiredconcentration is sufficient to enhance the herbicidal activity of theresulting composition over that observed with a comparable herbicidalcomposition without the surfactants. More preferably, the herbicidalcomposition includes the surfactant in amounts between about 20 g/L andabout 200 g/L; most preferably in amounts between about 50 g/L and about120 g/L.

The compositions described herein can be applied to plants in an amountsufficient to induce an herbicidal effect. For example, a compositionprepared according the present invention can be applied as an aqueoussolution to plants including the plants' leaves, stems, branches,flowers and/or fruit. The herbicidal composition can be applied in anherbicidally effective amount sufficient to inhibit plant growth or killindividual plants.

The agricultural compositions prepared according to the presentinvention are highly effective as an herbicide composition against avariety of weeds. The compositions of the present invention can be usedas is or combined with other components including other agriculturallyacceptable additives commonly used in formulated agricultural products,such as antifoam agents, compatibilizing agents, sequestering agents,neutralizing agents and buffers, corrosion inhibitors, dyes, odorants,penetration aids, wetting agents, spreading agents, drift controlagents, dispersing agents, thickening agents, freeze point depressants,antimicrobial agents, crop oil, other biologically and/or agriculturallyactive components and the like. The concentrated agriculturalcompositions are typically diluted in water and then applied byconventional means well known to those in the art.

The concentrated agricultural compositions of the present invention areparticularly well-suited for application to crops that are resistant ortolerant to both glyphosate and 2,4-D. They can, further, be used inconjunction with glufosinate, dicamba or imidazolinones onglufosinate-tolerant, dicamba-tolerant or imidazolinone-tolerant crops.

Example 1 Preparation of Glyphosate Amine Salt Solutions

504 g glyphosate technical (equivalent to 480 g glyphosate acid) wasreacted with 1.25 molar equivalents of amine aqueous solutions to form ahomogeneous clear solution at ambient temperature. Then, the pH of thesolution was adjusted to a range of 6-7.5 (Table 1) using additionalamine. Water was added, if needed, to reach a concentration ofglyphosate given in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Glyphosate acid equivalent Sample content ID Amine type (ae wt%) (g ae/l) pH G-1-1 Dimethylamine (DMA) 39.8 480 6.1 G-1-2Dimethylamine (DMA) 39.9 480 7.4 G-1-3 Dimethylamine (DMA) 40.5 489 7.3G-2 Isopropylamine (IPA) 40.7 480 6.13 G-3-1 Dimethylethanolamine 38.9480 6.0 (DMEnolA) G-3-2 Dimethylethanolamine 38.7 475 7.1 (DMEnolA) G-4Diethylethanolamine 38.8 481 6.16 (DEEnolA) G-5 Choline hydroxide 37.1463 7.2 (Choline) G-6 Tetramethylammonium 38.5 462 7.3 hydroxide(TetraMA)

Example 2 Preparation of 2,4-D Amine Salt Solutions

495 g 2,4-D technical (equivalent to 480 g 2,4-D acid) was reacted with1.02 molar equivalents or higher amount of amine aqueous solutions toform a homogeneous clear solution at ambient temperature. Then,additional water was added, if needed, to reach a concentration of 2,4-Dgiven in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Sample 2,4-D acid equivalent content ID Amine type (ae wt %)(gae/L) pH D-1 Dimethylamine (DMA) 41.4 482 7.1 D-2-1 Isopropylamine(IPA) 41.6 480 7.3 D-2-2 Isopropylamine (IPA) 41.7 480 9.3 D-3-1Dimethylethanolamine 40.6 486 8.35 (DMEnolA) D-3-2* Dimethylethanolamine40.3 480 7.8 (DMEnolA) D-3-3 Dimethylethanolamine 40.6 486 7.1 (DMEnolA)D-4 Diethylethanolamine 40.5 477 7.2 (DEEnolA) D-5 Choline hydroxide41.0 492 7.6 (Choline) D-6 Tetramethylammonium 41.0 474 7.4 hydroxide(TetraMA) *10 wt % propylene glycol was incorporated in the composition.

Example 3 Preparation of Glyphosate and 2-4-D Compositions

Compositions were prepared by mixing a glyphosate salt solution in Table1 with a 2,4-D salt solution in Table 2 and water if needed. Theexamples illustrated in Table 3 showed the storage stability of theprior art compositions containing glyphosate and 2,4-D isopropylamine(IPA) salts. The examples given in Table 4 demonstrate the invention.

TABLE 3 Glyphosate salt Weight ratio solution, 2,4-D salt Total activeof Formulation (amine solution, content glyphosate/ Storage stability*ID type) (amine type) (gae/L) 2,4-D Ambient −10° C. 1 G-2, (IPA) D-2-1,(IPA) 400 1:2.3 x x 2 G-2, (IPA) D-2-1, (IPA) 400 1:1 x x 3 G-2, (IPA)D-2-1, (IPA) 400 2.3:1 x x 4 G-2, (IPA) D-2-2, (IPA) 400 1:2.3 x x 5G-2, (IPA) D-2-2, (IPA) 400 1:1 x x 6 G-2, (IPA) D-2-2, (IPA) 400 2.3:1x x 7 G-2, (IPA) D-2-2, (IPA) 360 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ 8 G-2, (IPA) D-2-1, (IPA)360 1:1 ✓ PS 9 G-2, (IPA) D-2-2, (IPA) 320 1:1 ✓ ✓ 10 G-2, (IPA) D-2-2,(IPA) 320 2.3:1 ✓ PS Storage stability: “✓” indicated a clear,homogeneous, free-flowing fluid without any phase separation orcrystallization after at least 3 days of storage at a given temperature;“x” indicated crystallization of either salt or water in theformulation; “PS” indicated a phase separation being observed in theformulation.

TABLE 4 Total Weight ratio Glyphosate salt 2,4-D salt active ofFormulation solution, solution, content glyphosate/ Storage stability*ID (amine type) (amine type) (gae/L) 2,4-D ambient −10° C. 11 G-1-1,(DMA) D-1, (DMA) 480 1:2.3 ✓ x 12 G-1-2, (DMA) D-1, (DMA) 480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓13 G-1-2, (DMA) D-1, (DMA) 440 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ 14 G-1-2, (DMA) D-1, (DMA) 4401:1 ✓ ✓ 15 G-1-2, (DMA) D-1, (DMA) 400 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ 16 G-1-2, (DMA) D-1,(DMA) 400 1:1 ✓ ✓ 17 G-1-2, (DMA) D-1, (DMA) 400 2.3:1 ✓ PS 18 G-3-1,D-3-1, 480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ (DMEnolA) (DMEnolA) 19 G-3-2, D-3-1, 480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓(DMEnolA) (DMEnolA) 20 G-3-2, D-3-1, 480 1:1 ✓ ✓ (DMEnolA) (DMEnolA) 21G-3-1, D-3-3, 480 2.3:1 ✓ ✓ (DMEnolA) (DMEnolA) 22 G-3-1, D-3-1, 440 1:1✓ ✓ (DMEnolA) (DMEnolA) 23 G-3-2, D-3-1, 440 1:1 ✓ ✓ (DMEnolA) (DMEnolA)24 G-3-1, D-3-1, 400 1:1 ✓ ✓ (DMEnolA) (DMEnolA) 25 G-4, (DEEnolA) D-4,480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ (DEEnolA) 26 G-4, (DEEnolA) D-4, 480 1:1 ✓ PS (DEEnolA) 27G-4, (DEEnolA) D-4, 480 2.3:1 ✓ PS (DEEnolA) 28 G-4, (DEEnolA) D-4, 4401:1 ✓ ✓ (DEEnolA) 29 G-4, (DEEnolA) D-4, 440 2.3:1 ✓ PS (DEEnolA) 30G-5, (Choline) D-5, (Choline) 480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ 31 G-5, (Choline) D-5,(Choline) 480 1:1 ✓ ✓ 32 G-5, (Choline) D-5, (Choline) 440 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ 33G-5, (Choline) D-5, (Choline) 440 1:1 ✓ ✓ 34 G-5, (Choline) D-5,(Choline) 440 2.3:1 ✓ ✓ 35 G-6, (TetraMA) D-6, 470 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ (TetraMA)36 G-6, (TetraMA) D-6, 440 1:1 ✓ ✓ (TetraMA) 37 G-6, (TetraMA) D-6, 4002.3:1 ✓ ✓ (TetraMA) 38 G-2, (IPA) D-1, (DMA) 480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ 39 G-2, (IPA)D-3-1, 480 1:2.3 ✓ x (DMEnolA) 40 G-1-1, (DMA) D-3-1, 480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓(DMEnolA) 41 G-1-2, (DMA) D-3-1, 480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓ (DMEnolA) 42 G-1-1, (DMA)D-3-3, 480 1:1 ✓ PS (DMEnolA) 43 G-3-2, D-1, (DMA) 480 1:2.3 ✓ ✓(DMEnolA) Storage stability: “✓” indicated a clear, homogeneous,free-flowing fluid without any phase separation or crystallization afterat least 3 days of storage at a given temperature; “x” indicatedcrystallization of either salt or water in the formulation; “PS”indicated a phase separation being observed in the formulation.

Example 4 Glyphosate and 2,4-D Compositions with Improved ColdTemperature Storage Stability by Using Co-Solvent

Composition (with composition ID of 44) was prepared by mixing 10 g ofglyphosate DMA salt solution (G-1-3 in Table 1) with 10 g of 2,4-DDMEnolA salt solution (D-3-2 in to Table 2, containing 10 wt % propyleneglycol as cosolvent) at a weight ratio of 1:1. The total active contentis 480 gae/L. The composition contains 5 wt % propylene glycol. Itformed a clear, homogeneous solution after preparation at ambienttemperature. It was storage stable at 54, 0, −10, and −20° C. for atleast 2 weeks, without phase separation or crystal formation beingobserved. The compositions were clear, homogeneous, free-flowing fluids.

Example 5 Glyphosate and 2,4-D Compositions with Built-in Surfactants

A glyphosate DMA salt concentrate was prepared by reacting 435 gglyphosate technical (equivalent to 414 g glyphosate acid) with 475 g ofa 40% aqueous dimethylamine solution in 90 g water. The resultingsolution had a pH of 7.2 and a density of 1.218 g/mL.

Then, a 2,4-D DMEnolA salt concentrate was prepared by reacting 547.5 g2,4-D technical (equivalent to 536 g 2,4-D acid) with 217 g ofdimethylethanolamine in 260 g water. The resulting solution had a pH of7.5 and a density of 1.254 g/mL.

Formulations were prepared by mixing 10.63 g or 11.19 g of the above2,4-D DMEnolA salt concentrate, 1.5 g of propylene glycol, 13.77 g or14.5 g of the above glyphosate DMA salt concentrate, and 1.88 g ofsurfactants in a 25 mL volumetric flask. Additional water was added, ifneeded, to reach the target volume. The resulting formulations contained228 or 240 gae/L 2,4-D DMEnolA salt and 228 or 240 gae/L glyphosate DMAsalt. The examples given in Table 5 demonstrate the invention.

TABLE 5 Composition Glyphosate 2,4-D ID content (gae/L) content (gae/L)Surfactant 45 240 240 Ethomeen T/12 46 240 240 Ethomeen C/12 47 228 228Armeen DMTD 48 228 228 Duomeen TTM 49 228 228 Ethoduomeen T/13 50 228228 Propomeen T/12 51 228 228 Arquad T-50 52 240 240 Duoquad T-50 53 228228 AG 6202 54 240 240 Tomah Q-14-2 55 240 240 Aromox C/12 56 240 240Geronol CF/AR 57 240 240 Stepan's X-3705-44 58 240 240 Stepan'sX-3600-98 59 240 228 Ammonyx LO 60 240 228 Geronol CF/AS 30 + Adsee C80W(w/w = 2/1) 61 240 228 Geronol CF/AS 30 + Ethomeen T/12 (w/w = 2/1)Ethomeen C/12 and T/12 are ethoxylated (2) alkylamine from Akzo NobelArmeen DMTD is a tallowalkyl-dimethylamines from Akzo Nobel Duomeen TTMis a N,N,N′-trimethyl-N′-tallow-1,3-diaminopropane from Akzo NobelEthoduomeen T/13 is an ethoxylated (3) N-tallow-1,3-diaminopropane fromAkzo Nobel Propomeen T/12 is a N-tallowalkyl-1,1′-iminobis-2-propanolfrom Akzo Nobel Arquad T-50 is a tallowalkyltrimethyl ammonium chloridefrom Akzo Nobel Duoquad T-50 is aN,N,N′,N′,N′-pentamethyl-N′-tallow-1,3-propane diammonium dichloridefrom Akzo Nobel AG 6202 is an alkylpolyglucoside from Akzo Nobel TomahQ-14-2 is an isodecyloxypropyl methyl bis(2-hydroxyethyl) ammoniumchloride from Air Products Aromox C/12 is an ethoxylated (2) alkylamineoxide from Akzo Nobel Geronol CF/AR is an alcohol ethoxylate phosphateester from Rhodia Stepan's X-3705-44 is a proprietary alkylamine oxidefrom Stepan Stepan's X-3600-98 is a proprietary esterquad from StepanAmmonyx LO is a lauramine oxide from Stepan Adsee C80W is an alkylAmidopropyldimethylamine from Akzo Nobel

All formulations in Table 5 are homogeneous and free-flowing liquid at atemperature ranging from 54° C. to −10° C. without any phase separationor crystal formation being observed for at least 2 weeks.

The viscosity of composition #54 was measured with a TA AR1000Rheometer. The results were showed in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Temperature (° C.) Viscosity (mPa · s) −10 490 0 244 10 125 2072 40 36

1. A homogeneous, stable, high-strength aqueous herbicidal concentratecomposition comprising: (a) water, (b) a glyphosate amine salt, and (c)a 2,4-D amine salt, in which (i) the glyphosate amine salt and the 2,4-Damine salt are independently primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternaryalkylamine, alkanolamine or alkylalkanolamine salts, wherein the alkyland alkanol groups are saturated and contain from C₁-C₃ carbon atomsindividually, with the proviso that no more than one of the amine saltsin the composition can be a primary amine salt, (ii) the compositioncontains a total active ingredient loading of at least 350 gae/L of theglyphosate amine salt and the 2,4-D amine salt, (iii) the weight ratioof the glyphosate amine salt to the 2,4-D amine salt is from about 1:2.3to about 2.3:1, and (iv) the pH is from about 6.0 to about 8.0.
 2. Acomposition of claim 1 which contains a total active ingredient loadingof greater than about 450 grams of acid equivalent of the glyphosateamine salt and the 2,4-D amine salt.
 3. A composition of claim 1 inwhich the weight ratio of the glyphosate amine salt to the 2,4-D aminesalt is about 1:1.
 4. A composition of claim 1 in which the pH is fromabout 6.5 to about 7.5.
 5. A composition of claim 1 in which one or moreof the amine salts is a dimethylamine, trimethylamine, isopropylamine,dimethylethanolamine, diethylethanolamine, diethanol-amine, choline ortetramethylammonium salt.
 6. A composition of claim 1 which includes atleast one cosolvent in amounts between about 20 g/L and about 200 g/L.7. A composition of claim 1 which includes at least one efficacyenhancing surfactant in amounts between about 20 g/L and about 200 g/L.8. A method of controlling undesirable vegetation in crops that areresistant or tolerant to both glyphosate and 2,4-D which comprisesapplying to the undesirable vegetation and the crops that are resistantor tolerant to both glyphosate and 2,4-D a water-diluted composition ofany one of claims 1-7.